Finding La Negrita
by Natasha Gordon-Chipembere

Finding La Negrita is a captivating retelling of the Black Madonna narrative, a story deeply intertwined with Costa Rica’s national and spiritual identity since the 1700s. Natasha Gordon-Chipembere skillfully presents a vivid and intimate portrayal of slavery in Costa Rica, offering a unique perspective that diverges from the plantation bondage experienced in other parts of the Americas.

The story introduces us to Dakarai, a renowned African sculptor who is forced into slavery and separated from his newborn daughter, Jendayi. Bereft of her mother, who died during childbirth on a Middle Passage ship, Dakarai and Jendayi must navigate their grief and strive to build a life in the New World. Finding La Negrita traverses time and space to capture the poignant reunion of Dakarai and Jendayi. As they come together, they face the challenges of a single father raising a determined young girl in an era where the line between freedom and enslavement is precarious.

In the margins of society, unbeknownst to each other, Dakarai and Jendayi embark on the pursuit of forbidden loves that defy the constraints imposed by colonial society. Yet, as they explore these dangerous paths, they are forced to reckon with the costs and consequences they may bring upon themselves and each other.